Safety-stirrup.



A. RITYCHIE. SAFETY smnur.

APPLICATION FILED APH-1|. 1917.

Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

Hexander Rrlnhia ALEXANDER Erreurs, or onBos'r, vIo'roRrA, AUSTRALIA.

Tri-all whom it mag/concern :1' Be it known that I ALEXANDER RITCI-rrn, a sub-ject off the King' of Greati Britain and Ireland, and a resident of the post -town of Orbost. in the county of Croajingolong, State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia. (whose post-office address is Aquahell Farm, Orbost, in the said State of Victoria.) have invented certain new and useful Improvements relating to Safety-Stirrups, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stirrups for use with riding saddles and has for its object to produce a stirrup from which the foot may in case of accident be instantly and automatically released. The construction has been so designed that the downward pressure of the riders feet tends to securely hold the parts of the stirrup together, but as soon as pressure is exerted in a side direction due to displacement of the rider from his seat, the foot is immediately freed from the stirrup thereby preventing injuries by dragging.

Referring to the drawings which form a` part of this specification:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stirn rup according to this invention. Portion of the stirrup leather is shown in broken lines. Fig. 2 shows the two halves of the stirrup separated. Fig. 3 is a section on line AA of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a modification, and Fig. 5 is a section on line B--B of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation showing the stirrup open to disengage the foot.

The invention includes a divided stirrup and primarily consists of two members held together by the stirrup strap which is used in the ordinary manner. One member includes an approximately U shaped foot plate 2 upstanding from which is a leg 3 the upper extremity or arched portion 4 of which is turned inwardly and has a slot 6 therein to receive the stirrup leather 7.

The other member consists of an approximately V shaped foot plate 8 adapted to fit within the U shaped plate and having an upstanding leg 9 the outer extremity or arched portion 10 of which is turned inwardly and has therein a slot 11 to receive the stirrup leather.

Preferably the two members of the foot plate are formed from a suitably shaped metal plate, one member 8 being removed by suitable means .from the plate which Speci'cation of Letters Patent.

l f Patented `Dec. 1'8 .1917.

Applicata@ medepnl 11, 19.17. l Serin No, y161,352.

leavesthe other InenaloerQ-jV =olf-the required shape. The engaging edges of the members Zand 8 arepi-e-ferablytapered as at 12 and .rounded as at 13.

The outer extremity or arched portion of one of the legs may be bifurcated to form. side lugs 14 between which fits a central lug 16 extending from the opposite ieg. Through these lugs the slots (i and 11 are formed, or the two arched portions 4 and 10 may be stepped as at 17 (Fig. 4) forming overlapping lugs 18. Or the said arched portions may be tapered, bent, or otherwise formed to bring their outer faces flush and allow of free pivotal movement between the two halves of the stirrup.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the inturned extremities of the legs are pivoted by a pivot pin 19 which retains the two halves of the stirrup together and forms a hinge therefor.

In all cases the legs are preferably made integral with foot plates but if desired they may be made separately and secured thereto in any convenient manner.

The invention operates as followsz-The inwardly turned or arched portions of the legs of the stirrup are by means of the elon gated slots connected to the saddle with an ordinary stirrup leather and in use the foot of the rider pressing firmly upon the divided foot plates holds them together.

Should the rider be thrown or fall the pressure of the foot is transferred from the foot plate to one of the legs of the stirrup.

This causes the divided foot plates to open v outwardly thereby immediately freeing the foot. The action in the case of each modification is precisely the same.

It is to be understood that the invention consists essentially of aI divided foot plate and a leg secured to each individual member and the above description is to be interpreted to include any suitable means for attaching same to the stirrup leather.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A stirrup formed intwo halves, each half carrying portion of a foot plate, one half of the said foot plate having a substantially U shaped opening, the other half being adapted to fit in said U shaped opening, a leg upstanding from each half of the foot plate, overlapping lugs at the upper end of each leg, and a. pivot pin connecting said lugs, sam lugs having slots to engage the vrlcier to engage both halves to hold the str 

